Pensioner battles with Spanish company over bargain cruise

ROBERT JAMIESON, 73, paid £1100 for a 14-night cruise in a first-class cabin.

PENSIONER Robert Jamieson thought his luck was in when he was offered a luxury cruise at a bargain price.

The Holiday Specialist caught him off guard when they cold-called him at home... as he was just back from the Caribbean.

Robert, 73, paid £499 for a “loyalty card” plus a further £600 for a 14-night cruise in a first-class cabin anywhere in the world.

But nine months and countless phone calls later, he had still not received any paperwork from the Spanish company, never mind a luxury holiday.

Robert, of Armadale, West Lothian, said: “I think the old saying, – a fool and his money are easily parted – applies here.

“I want to warn others.”

He signed up in January and paid the initial amount by debit card. The second payment was made by credit card a month later.

Robert, a retired engineer, said: “They did manage to send a welcome pack and loyalty card but I never got any mail to verify the holiday.

“I’d moved and they blamed that. But they had my new address and I was never off the phone to them so there’s no excuse.

“When I threatened to contact you, some paperwork did arrive, but they wanted more money to qualify for the free cruise and there were only two to choose from. It bore no relation to what I’d been sold on the phone.

“Flights were extra as were taxes, transfers, supplements and surcharges. I’d have been cheaper going to my local travel agent.”

I got on to The Holiday Specialist but they insisted Robert had received what he’d paid for.

Their spokesman said: “We have spoken with Mr Jamieson and he has confirmed he is in receipt of all of the holiday information he was missing at the time of contacting you.

“We are in the process of helping him make his holiday booking.

“We have amended our system to ensure that all correspondence sent to the client is done via recorded delivery. As he can now proceed with his booking, he does not require a refund.”

Trading Standards in Guernsey are warning consumers to be vigilant after receiving several complaints about The Holiday Specialist.

Their spokesman said: “We’ve been advising people to contact their credit card companies as soon as possible to make a claim.

“We’re trying to hammer home the message that it’s OK to hang up on a cold-caller.”

It remains to be seen whether Robert will ever be able to go on his cruise.

I’m speaking to his credit card company to ask them to intervene under consumer protection laws.